Family Promise Adds to the National Board of Trustees

As Family Promise enters its fourth decade of transformative work this year, the organization continues to expand its scope and impact. What began in 1988 as a local response for families in crisis developed into a national movement involving 200 communities in 43 states. By the year 2020, Family Promise will have served approximately one million people. Programming now comprises not only shelter but prevention and stabilization for families across the country.

Mirroring this growth at the leadership level, Family Promise’s Board of Trustees recently announced several new Trustees, as well as a new board officer:

·Leah Griffith, current Trustee and Managing Partner at Watts Consulting, has been elected Secretary of the Board, replacing Neely Dodge, who transitions to a seat on the Family Promise Emeritus Board.

·Kat Lilley, Executive Director of Family Promise of Colorado Springs, becomes the first Affiliate director to be named a national Trustee.

·Joshua Barer, Managing Partner at Barer & Son Capital, has been elected as a Trustee.

·Andrew Pierce, President of Prophet, has been elected as a Trustee.

Kat Lilley

Kat Lilley’s work as an Affiliate director has allowed her to focus on bringing a comprehensive community response to family housing instability and homelessness in her community. She has worked closely with Family Promise of Colorado Springs since 2014 when she began volunteering after she and her family progressed into housing from the shelter program. Kat joined Family Promise’s National Guest Advisory Council in 2015, where she provides a former guest’s perspective for national initiatives and policy updates. Kat has testified before Congress and has spoken at numerous national conferences on issues of homelessness and housing.

“Family Promise is a national movement which works to empower families from housing instability and crisis to stable housing and strong financial well-being. I am excited to join the national Board of Directors and look forward to deepening my engagement with the organization which recognizes the complexities of family homelessness and works tirelessly to provide appropriate, comprehensive solutions,” said Lilley.

Family Promise Board Chair Angela Schroeder noted Lilley’s distinctive path to her new role: “Kat brings a unique voice to our national board, both as a former guest and now as the Executive Director of our Colorado Springs Affiliate. Her success story continues to inspire our Family Promise staff, volunteers, and supporters.”

Joshua Barer

Joshua Barer’s family firm is focused on early stage therapeutics company formation and venture capital. Barer attended the University of Haifa and earned degrees from Rutgers University and Drew University. In addition to his new role as a Family Promise Trustee, he also serves on several other nonprofit boards centered around education and economic development.

“I’m excited to join the Family Promise board and community,” said Barer. “Coming from a very close-knit family, the mission of Family Promise is personally important to me, and I continue to be impressed by all the organization accomplishes across the country as I learn about its scope and impact.”

“Josh’s background in interfaith work, both through his graduate studies and his non-profit board leadership, will enhance our work with Affiliates and congregational leaders and volunteers. In addition, Josh will share his talents with our newly formed NextGen Committee,” commented Schroeder.

Andrew Pierce

Andrew Pierce leads Prophet, a digital transformation, brand, and marketing consultancy. He sits on the boards of Prophet and Zylinc, a Danish software company. “As the President of Prophet, Andy brings a critical expertise in branding and marketing to our organization as we focus on increasing our impact nationally,” said Schroeder. “Andy will also enable us highlight our work as a thought leader in the field of family homelessness.”

Pierce welcomes the new challenges ahead: “I was introduced to Family Promise through fellow Board member Eileen Serra and was immediately inspired by the passion, commitment, and focus of the Family Promise leadership team and its Affiliates. I am excited about the opportunity to contribute to such a great organization and work in support of its on-going efforts to eliminate homelessness nationwide.”